Do we really need gas powered vehicles anymore?

[Da Realist]

Gas powered vehicles are going to be around till there is a leap in one area: transporting goods. When there is a way to ship a large amount of stuff easily and without gas, that's when cars will change. The only alternative I see that somewhat works is to use old cooking oil. I haven't seen what kind of emissions it creates, but being able to use something twice seems to be a step in the right direction.

 

[speakeasy]

I think the government should buy everyone who wants on a Ninja 250:
http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/roadtests/10608/flash-looking-ninja-250-just-fine-for-learners

Going easy on the throttle gets you 75 mpg. That beats any hybrid, and they are much cooler. Not so great in the snow, but if a few million Americans took a 250cc motorcycle to work when the weather was nice, we'd save a lot of energy.

I came very close to getting a ninja250 a few years back. But then started having second thoughts about the safety issue. I started hearing about a rash of motorcycle fatalities and back off. If I decide to get a bike, this will be my starter bike. I don't care about speed and racing or any ****e like that. I care more about the fuel economy and just being out in the open air.

 

[Maxtro]

I think the government should buy everyone who wants on a Ninja 250:
http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/news/roadtests/10608/flash-looking-ninja-250-just-fine-for-learners

Going easy on the throttle gets you 75 mpg. That beats any hybrid, and they are much cooler. Not so great in the snow, but if a few million Americans took a 250cc motorcycle to work when the weather was nice, we'd save a lot of energy.

The 250r's are getting too expensive. The 2009 MSRP is now 4,000. The 2008's are still going for over 3k on eBay and craigslist.

I took the MSF rider course last year and I just need to do the written to get a license. The cost of a bike is just too high for something I don't really need.

Also the thought of riding on the freeways in SoCal kind of scares me.

 

[Bible_Belt]

You can get an older one for about $1500. My R1 is a lot of fun, but my $180 back tire is rated at only 3,000 miles, which is ridiculous. High-end sport bikes burn money. Sport touring 250s and 500s don't. A 500 gets great mileage, too, 50+ mpg. I like bikes that already have a scratch or two on the plastic so that the value drops about a grand before I buy it, instead of after.

 

[speakeasy]

Also the thought of riding on the freeways in SoCal kind of scares me.

Exactly, just from listening to traffic news on the radio, I'd say there's about one motorcycle fatality a day on L.A. freeways.

 

[PRMoon]

This article makes me want to hug my cars. I love them so much and when I have to get rid of them I'm probobly going to cry.

 

[speakeasy]

This article makes me want to hug my cars. I love them so much and when I have to get rid of them I'm probobly going to cry.

As f'ed up as gas vehicles may be for the environment, I wil miss them when they're gone. With these ecobox electric cars, you won't get that roar of the engine as you floor it. No more of that cool sound of shifting gears. It'll feel driving a large golf cart.